ONAPAC Board of Directors meeting at the Memling Hotel in October 2023
As part of the activities of the National Office of Agricultural Products of Congo (ONAPAC), a meeting of the Board of Directors was held on October 3, 2023 at the Maiko Room of the Memling Hotel. Under the leadership of Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ONAPAC, this second session of the year 2023 brought together the Director General, the Administrators and the Secretary General of the Board of Directors, as well as the representative of the Minister of Agriculture.
During this meeting, Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi highlighted the importance and challenges facing ONAPAC. He notably recalled that ONAPAC is not responsible for all agricultural products, but focuses on around twenty products intended for export such as coffee, cocoa, rubber, cinchona, papaya, vanilla and medicinal plants. He also specified that ONAPAC’s mission is to supervise planters, processing, storage and transit, thus ensuring the complete production chain up to export.
However, Mr. Muke Mukengeshayi highlighted the difficulties encountered by ONAPAC in mobilizing the funds necessary for its operation. Out of an annual budget of 15 million dollars, ONAPAC only manages to mobilize a fifth, or only 3 million dollars. This situation has an impact on ONAPAC’s capacity to cover its expenses and pay full salaries to its agents and executives.
The PCA also mentioned the challenges facing ONAPAC, notably the delaying tactics of certain members of the Congo Business Federation (FEC) who question the advantages granted to ONAPAC. He called on the Minister of Agriculture to intervene to support ONAPAC and counter these actions which could compromise its functioning.
This meeting of the ONAPAC Board of Directors highlighted the issues facing this public establishment responsible for the supervision and promotion of agricultural products intended for export. Despite financial difficulties, ONAPAC remains determined to fulfill its mission and contribute to the development of the agricultural sector in Congo.